this is bbc news with the headlines. the british prime minster could be anointed as early as monday afternoon, each candidate will need at least 100 to progress to the next round — former chancellor rishi sunak leads with 146, former prime ministerjohnson has 57 and penny mordaunt — just 24. rishi sunak officiallyjoins the race to be the next conservative leader and british prime minister, with senior cabinet ministers declaring support. former prime minister borisjohnson is reported to have asked fellow leadership hopeful penny mordaunt to drop out of the race and to back his campaign. she is said to have refused. she is still in the running despite sitting a distant third in declared mp nominations. she told the bbc she believes in cabinet led politics.